Sunday, December 21, 2008

Start looking at your draft boards people.

If it wasn't certain, well now its official, the Lions have clinched the number one pick in the draft. Somehow, they couldn't find a way to screw this up. The last few times they had a shot at the #1 pick, they screwed it up. They won a couple of games towards the end of the year in 2001, to end up with the #3 pick and the lovable, huggable Joey "BlueSkies" Harrington. In 2006 they decided to go to Dallas and beat the Cowboys the last week of the season. Thank God, because the lions could have had another bust at QB in JaMarcus Russell and instead we got one of the only worthwhile pieces in Calvin Johnson.

Okay, so instead of listing what the Lions need, I will list what they don't.
-Wide Receiver, I am happy with Calvin, Keary Colbert, and Standeford.
-Kicker, assuming Jason Hanson comes back for an 18th season
-Punter, Nick Harris is just fine
-Running Back, Kevin Smith is looking good.
-Tight End, Gaines, Campbell, Fitzsimmons are good enough for me.

Everyone seems to think the Lions need a Quarterback. I agree they need a QB, but the first pick of the draft is not the place to do it. The Falcons succeded with a rookie QB this year because they had a good line around them, note they have in the top of rushing stats for the last couple of years. Joe Flacco was able to succeed because they had a decent, if not good line around him already. The Lions on the other hand, have an inconsistent, mediocre offensive line. They should be drafting on the O-line. Whoever comes in needs to see that Jeff Backus and his league lead in holding penalties (it seems like it at least) is not the answer at the left Tackle spot. Andre Smith from Alabama seems like he could be a good fit in Detroit. I don't want Matthew Stafford because most of his positives are just his size and body type, not his consistency and accuracy. I don't want Graham Harrell or Sam Bradford because they have come from a typically Spread offensein college and probably will need some time developing before they can be plugged into an NFL offense. This year's draft needs to be one where they can solidify the o-line and d-line and a couple of other holes so next year they can focus on using a first round draft pick on a QB.

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